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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Yearning so hard you contemplate a killing spree is the most relatable part of this book.
"Ich meinerseits gebe Ihnen mein Wort darauf, meine Freunde, dass ich keinen von Ihnen vergessen werde!"
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Best een cool opzet eigenlijk. Een zeer uitgebreide uiteenzetting van een situatie, met complexe en gedetailleerde familierelaties, om zo vrij ongemerkt karakterstudies te maken van bijna tien verschillende mensen, met elk zijn eigen mental health problemen. Dit allemaal neemt zeer veel tijd en pagina's in.
Dan gebeurt er een moord, en in tegenstelling tot de precieze beschrijvingen ervoor, wordt die moord beschreven met zwarte gaten, die enkel aangevuld worden door getuigenissen die zelfs tot in twee dimensies in twijfel getrokken kunnen worden: proberen de personen wel de waarheid te spreken, en zijn die in tweede instantie zelfs capabel om te weten wat de waarheid is en wat niet?
Zoals bij elke moord is de vraag naar de dader iets dat het plot automatisch vooruit drijft, maar dit overstayde zijn welcome. Pagina's op pagina's uiteenzetting en herhaling. Op een bepaald moment worden 50 pagina's, ik herhaal VIJFTIG PAGINA'S, gewijd aan een nevenpersonage dat vlak ervoor al gestorven is, en erna ook niet meer ter sprake komt.
Daarenboven waren de meeste personages irritant, en niet interessant irritant, maar echt "Ik wil stoppen met lezen"-irritant. Hot take: mensen in de 19de eeuw hadden te veel tijd. Van letterlijk alles wordt een probleem gemaakt. Ik denk dat de meeste problemen in dit boek zouden opgelost worden door twee keer diep in te ademen en een dag verlof te nemen. Calm the fuck down. Maar wat verwacht ik ook van mensen uit de adel in Rusland eind 19de eeuw, die niet werkt en teert op de landbouwersklasse. Ik kon me troosten met de gedachte dat dit soort mensen slechts enkele jaren te gaan hadden voor onze glorieuze revolutie plaatsvond, wanneer ze grotendeels van hun bezittingen ontdaan werden. Dit happy end moet je er jammer genoeg zelf bij verzinnen.
Dan gebeurt er een moord, en in tegenstelling tot de precieze beschrijvingen ervoor, wordt die moord beschreven met zwarte gaten, die enkel aangevuld worden door getuigenissen die zelfs tot in twee dimensies in twijfel getrokken kunnen worden: proberen de personen wel de waarheid te spreken, en zijn die in tweede instantie zelfs capabel om te weten wat de waarheid is en wat niet?
Zoals bij elke moord is de vraag naar de dader iets dat het plot automatisch vooruit drijft, maar dit overstayde zijn welcome. Pagina's op pagina's uiteenzetting en herhaling. Op een bepaald moment worden 50 pagina's, ik herhaal VIJFTIG PAGINA'S, gewijd aan een nevenpersonage dat vlak ervoor al gestorven is, en erna ook niet meer ter sprake komt.
Daarenboven waren de meeste personages irritant, en niet interessant irritant, maar echt "Ik wil stoppen met lezen"-irritant. Hot take: mensen in de 19de eeuw hadden te veel tijd. Van letterlijk alles wordt een probleem gemaakt. Ik denk dat de meeste problemen in dit boek zouden opgelost worden door twee keer diep in te ademen en een dag verlof te nemen. Calm the fuck down. Maar wat verwacht ik ook van mensen uit de adel in Rusland eind 19de eeuw, die niet werkt en teert op de landbouwersklasse. Ik kon me troosten met de gedachte dat dit soort mensen slechts enkele jaren te gaan hadden voor onze glorieuze revolutie plaatsvond, wanneer ze grotendeels van hun bezittingen ontdaan werden. Dit happy end moet je er jammer genoeg zelf bij verzinnen.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I just finished re-reading The Brothers Karamazov. This is a book that probably has to be read at least two times for a full understanding of its themes and meaning. I got a lot more out of it this time around and I was fortunate that I got to read it with the Catching up on Classics group here on Goodreads. The discussions and comments in the group have really been great, and helped in my understanding of the book.
I've read all of Dostoevsky's major works and I'd say this is the most worldly of all of them. Crime and Punishment, and the Idiot are focused on the individual and Dostoevsky dives deep into his protagonist's souls in both of those books. To me, Brothers Karamazov is much more expansive in scope than C&P and the Idiot.
In The BK, we get to ponder deep theological questions like about the existence of God, and good vs. evil. Dostoevsky provides compelling arguments for both sides of the theological argument in the context of a father's, Fyodor Pavlovitch Karamazov's, relationship with his three sons, Dmitri, Ivan, and Alexey. Fyodor Pavlovitch is the definition of a sensualist which means his focus in life is pleasure and seeking pleasure, and he doesn't show any care for his sons. His oldest son, Dmitri, is driven by passion, and he knows right from wrong but he is manic and pushes the limit in his endeavors and causes a major strain and disruption for his family and many people of his town in his jealous fight with his father over a woman named Grushenka. The second son, Ivan, is an atheist and he struggled mightily with right and wrong and how it affects people in his life. His main statement is "if God does not exist, then everything is allowed". Ivan's struggle with his theology and the beginning of a reconciliation of peace within his soul by the end of the novel, I believe are the heart of what this novel about. The third son, Alexey, starts out as a monk in a monastery, deeply faithful and religious, and his realization, while not as dramatic as Ivan's, is just as compelling. By the end, Alexey finds a theology that he can work with.
The overarching story is a murder of Fyodor Pavlovitch, and trying to figure out who committed the murder. The familial relationship of fathers and sons is studied in this novel along with what makes a "father" more than just a father into a "dad".
Theology, psychology, father/son relationship, and a pinch of hope thrown in at the end make this a very worthwhile read. If you are new to Dostoevsky, I still recommend Crime and Punishment as a jumping off point, also don't miss The Idiot, and then The Brothers Karamazov after you have a feel for his writing and story telling style. Dostoevsky is one of my favorite authors for how he can show his readers all angles of his characters and he makes all of them very rounded and very real.
I've read all of Dostoevsky's major works and I'd say this is the most worldly of all of them. Crime and Punishment, and the Idiot are focused on the individual and Dostoevsky dives deep into his protagonist's souls in both of those books. To me, Brothers Karamazov is much more expansive in scope than C&P and the Idiot.
In The BK, we get to ponder deep theological questions like about the existence of God, and good vs. evil. Dostoevsky provides compelling arguments for both sides of the theological argument in the context of a father's, Fyodor Pavlovitch Karamazov's, relationship with his three sons, Dmitri, Ivan, and Alexey. Fyodor Pavlovitch is the definition of a sensualist which means his focus in life is pleasure and seeking pleasure, and he doesn't show any care for his sons. His oldest son, Dmitri, is driven by passion, and he knows right from wrong but he is manic and pushes the limit in his endeavors and causes a major strain and disruption for his family and many people of his town in his jealous fight with his father over a woman named Grushenka. The second son, Ivan, is an atheist and he struggled mightily with right and wrong and how it affects people in his life. His main statement is "if God does not exist, then everything is allowed". Ivan's struggle with his theology and the beginning of a reconciliation of peace within his soul by the end of the novel, I believe are the heart of what this novel about. The third son, Alexey, starts out as a monk in a monastery, deeply faithful and religious, and his realization, while not as dramatic as Ivan's, is just as compelling. By the end, Alexey finds a theology that he can work with.
The overarching story is a murder of Fyodor Pavlovitch, and trying to figure out who committed the murder. The familial relationship of fathers and sons is studied in this novel along with what makes a "father" more than just a father into a "dad".
Theology, psychology, father/son relationship, and a pinch of hope thrown in at the end make this a very worthwhile read. If you are new to Dostoevsky, I still recommend Crime and Punishment as a jumping off point, also don't miss The Idiot, and then The Brothers Karamazov after you have a feel for his writing and story telling style. Dostoevsky is one of my favorite authors for how he can show his readers all angles of his characters and he makes all of them very rounded and very real.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Its the best book of dostovesky cause it captures theme of the other book